Low profile blow-on force automatic switch

ABSTRACT

Systems of automatic transfer switches (ATS) are disclosed herein. One apparatus includes at least two automatic transfer switches coupled together. Each automatic transfer switches has contacts to couple a power source to a load. For each switch, an electromagnetic force biasing the contacts to each other is present if an electrical current flows through the switch. The automatic transfer switches may be on separate cassettes or on a single cassette. The power source of each switch may be the same or different.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a Divisional of U.S. application Ser. No.15/331,660, filed Oct. 21, 2016, which claims priority to U.S.Provisional Patent Application No. 62/245,753, filed Oct. 23, 2015, bothof which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.

FIELD

The present disclosure relates to automatic transfer switches (ATS).

BACKGROUND

An automatic transfer switch is used to switch an electric load back andforth between power sources (e.g., a primary power source, such as autility, and a secondary power source, such as a generator).Transferring power from the primary to the secondary source happens, forexample, when the utility experiences a blackout. When the power outageis over, the automatic transfer switch switches the power source back toutility power.

SUMMARY

One embodiment of the disclosure relates to a system of coupledautomatic transfer switches. A system of coupled automatic transferswitches, the system comprises a stationary bar and a plurality ofautomatic transfer switches on the stationary bar. Each of the pluralityof automatic transfer switches comprises a source bar and a movable bar.The source bar is structured to connect to a corresponding power source.The movable bar is electrically coupled and rotatably connected to thestationary bar. The movable bar contacts the source bar to provide powerfrom the corresponding power source. The movable bar is subjected to anelectromagnetic force biasing the movable bar towards the source bar.The electromagnetic force is induced by current flowing through thestationary bar and the movable bar. The movable bars of the plurality ofautomatic transfer switches are on a same side of the stationary bar.

These and other features, together with the organization and manner ofoperation thereof, will become apparent from the following detaileddescription when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of an automatic transfer switch cassette.

FIG. 2A is a schematic diagram of blow-on and blow-off forces on amovable bar of the automatic transfer switch of FIG. 1 at a closedposition.

FIG. 2B is a schematic diagram illustrating current flowing throughcontacts of the automatic transfer switch of FIG. 1 at a closedposition.

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of a system of coupled automatic transferswitches in a daisy-chain configuration according to an exemplaryembodiment.

FIG. 4A is a cross sectional diagram of a cluster according to anexemplary embodiment.

FIG. 4B is a perspective diagram of a cluster.

FIG. 4C is a perspective diagram of a cluster with springs mountedthereon.

FIG. 5 is a perspective diagram of an assembly of four clusters.

FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram of a system of coupled automatic transferswitches having source connections on a single side according to anexemplary embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a perspective diagram of a conventional three-pole automatictransfer switch.

FIG. 8A is a schematic diagram of an anti-bounce blow-on contactautomatic transfer switch cassette at an open position.

FIG. 8B is a schematic diagram of the anti-bounce blow-on contactautomatic transfer switch cassette of FIG. 8A at an initial closedposition.

FIG. 8C is a schematic diagram of the anti-bounce blow-on contactautomatic transfer switch cassette of FIGS. 8A and 8B at an ultimateclosed position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In the following detailed description, reference is made to theaccompanying drawings, which form a part hereof. In the drawings,similar symbols typically identify similar components, unless contextdictate otherwise. The illustrative embodiments described in thedetailed description, drawings, and claims are not meant to be limiting.Other embodiments may be utilized, and other changes may be made,without departing from the spirit or scope of the subject matterpresented here. It will be readily understood that the aspects of thepresent disclosure, as generally described herein, and illustrated inthe figures, can be arranged, substituted, combined, and designed in awide variety of different configurations, all of which are explicitlycontemplated and made part of this disclosure.

A blow-on contact automatic transfer switch utilizes a “blow-on”electromagnetic force (EMF) induced by an electrical current flowingthrough the switch to assist keeping together contacts that connect anelectrical load to the power sources. As used herein, a blow-on forcerefers to the EMF force generated that biases the switch contactstowards one another and presses them together when current is flowing.The current in the switch needs to follow a proper path to generate andmaintain the blow-on force. If the current does not follow the properpath through the ATS, the benefits of the blow-on contact design wouldbe lost.

In some situations, automatic transfer switches are coupled together toserve various purposes. For example, automatic transfer switches areoften coupled in a “bypass” configuration for critical powerinstallations. In the bypass configuration, two or more automatictransfer switches are coupled in parallel and driven by a commoncontroller. If one automatic transfer switch fails or needs maintenance,it can be automatically bypassed by the other automatic transferswitches or manually bypassed. Typically, the automatic transferswitches are connected in a way for the convenience of physicalimplementation of the system without considering current paths in theswitches. Therefore, a design for coupling blow-on force automatictransfer switches together, such as in a bypass configuration, whilepreserving the appropriate current flow path and thus benefits of theblow-on contact switch is desired. With conventional ATS utilizing“blow-off” style contacts it is not critical where the electrical sourceis physically coupled to the switch (or the specific path the currentflows through) so when in a bypass configuration the ATS switches can becoupled from the front or the back to make connection and placement inthe electrical cabinet easier. In blow-on contact ATS switches, however,the current flow path matters to maintain the “blow-on” force keepingthe contacts pushed together by current induced EMF. If this was notconsidered and a bypass configuration connection or anotherconfiguration connection taken where convenient, such as on thealternative connection on the front of an ATS switch “cassette” orswitch housing as conventional blow-off ATS contacts often do, a blow-onATS switch loses the induced EMF force and thus reverts back to being ablow-off style switch and the blow-on force benefit of the design islost.

Referring to the figures generally, various embodiments disclosed hereinrelate to coupling of blow-on force automatic transfer switches. In theembodiments disclosed herein, blow-on force automatic transfer switchesare coupled in such a way that, for each switch, the proper current flowpath is maintained. Thus, the electromagnetic force biasing the contactsto each other is present when power is supplied via the switch. Thecoupled automatic transfer switches may be provided on separatecassettes or on a single cassette, and may be used as a by-passconfiguration.

Referring to FIG. 1, a schematic diagram of a blow-on contact automatictransfer switch cassette 100 is shown. ATS switch housing or cassette100 includes a first source bar 102 with a first source contact pad 103,a second source bar 104 with a second source contact pad 105, astationary bar 106, a first movable bar 108 with a first movable contactpad 109, a second movable bar 110 with a second movable contact pad 111,a first spring and mechanical linkage 114, and a second spring andmechanical linkage 116. In some embodiments, the first source bar 102and the second source bar 104 are fixed on the cassette 100. The firstsource bar 102 may be connected to a primary power source (notillustrated in the present figure), for example, a utility. The secondsource bar 104 may be coupled to a secondary power source (notillustrated in the present figure), for example, a generator. In someembodiments, the stationary bar 106 is also fixed on the cassette 100.The stationary bar 106 may be coupled to an electrical load (notillustrated in the present figure), for example, a resistive load and/ora motor load. The load may include appliances, lights, or other loadsdesirable to power in the event of a utility grid failure. In someembodiments, stationary bar 106 is a T-shaped bar.

The first movable bar 108 and the second movable bar 110 are eachelectrically coupled and rotatably connected to the stationary bar 106.The first and second movable bars 108 and 110 each rotate between aclosed position and an open position. As used herein, the “closedposition” refers to the situation in which the movable bar engages thecorresponding source bar of the power source that supplies power. The“open position” refers to the situation in which the movable bardisengages the corresponding source bar of the power source that isdisconnected from the load. When power is being supplied from theprimary power source, the first movable contact pad 109 at an end of thefirst movable bar 108 engages the first source contact pad 103 at an endof the first source contact 102. The first movable bar 108 is in theclosed position and the electrical load is electrically connected to theprimary power source. When there is an interruption in the primary powersource, the first movable bar 108 rotates from the closed position tothe open position to disengage the first movable contact pad 109 fromthe first source contact pad 103. The second movable bar 110 rotatesfrom the open position to the closed position to allow the secondmovable contact pad 111 at an end of the second movable bar 110 toengage the second source contact pad 105 at an end of the second sourcecontact 104. The electrical load is electrically connected to thesecondary power source. A similar operation is performed to transferback to the primary power source from the secondary power source whenthe interruption is over. In some embodiments, the contacts pads 103,105, 109, and 111 are made of a silver or copper alloy.

Referring to FIG. 2A, schematic diagram of blow-on and blow-off forceson a movable bar of the automatic transfer switch of FIG. 1 is shown ina closed position. The current flow path is A-A′ in the stationary bar106, B-B′ in the first movable bar 108, and C-C′ in the first sourcecontact 102. Since the current flow directions are opposite in thestationary bar 106 and the first movable bar 108, an repulsiveelectromagnetic force is induced that pushes the first movable bar 108away from the stationary bar 106. This is the blow-on force that biasesthe first movable contact pad 109 towards the first source contact pad103 and assists the closing force provided by the first spring andmechanical linkage 114. FIG. 2B illustrates current flowing through thefirst movable contact pad 109 and the first source contact pad 103. Asshown, the in and out currents between the first movable contact pad 109and the first source contact pad 103 are not on the same axis but forman angle. As a result, the in current and the out current induce arepulsive electromagnetic force between the first movable contact pad109 and the first source contact pad 103 which pushes the first movablecontact pad 109 away from the first source contact pad 103. This is ablow-off force that separates the contacts apart.

Referring back to FIG. 1, the cassette 100 may further include springsto help maintain a contact force during operation. As shown in thefigure, the first spring and mechanical linkage 114 includes a spring114 a that pulls from the bottom of the first movable bar 108 and aspring 114 b that presses on top of the first movable bar 108. Thesecond spring and mechanical linkage 116 includes a spring 116 a thatpulls from the bottom of the second movable bar 110 and a spring 116 bthat presses on top of the second movable bar 110. It is noted that insome embodiments, springs 114 a and 114 b can be combined into a singlespring 114, and so can springs 116 a and 116 b. In some embodiments, thefirst spring and mechanical linkage 114 and the second spring andmechanical linkage 116 each apply about 10 N to 100 N contact force onthe corresponding movable bar at the closed position.

Referring to FIG. 3, a schematic diagram of a system 300 of coupledblow-on force automatic transfer switches 310 and 320 in a daisy-chainconfiguration is shown according to an exemplary embodiment. The system300 includes a first automatic transfer switch 310 and a secondautomatic transfer switch 320 coupled together. It shall be appreciatedthat the system of two switches is given herein for example only, notfor limitation. The system 300 may include any number of coupledswitches. The system 300 may be used, for example, as a bypassconfiguration of switches for critical power installations. In thebypass configuration, two or more automatic transfer switches arecoupled in parallel and driven by a common controller. If one automatictransfer switch fails, it can be automatically bypassed by the otherautomatic transfer switches. Typically, the automatic transfer switchesare connected in a manner that is at the convenience of the physicalimplementation without considering current paths in the switches.However, as noted above, for the automatic transfer switches 310 and 320to take advantage of the blow-on contact design, the current in theswitch needs to follow the appropriate path through each switch, forexample, from the distal ends 317 and 327 of the stationary bars 313 and323 and through the connection ends 316 and 326 of the stationary bars313 and 323 to the first movable bar 314 and 324 or to the secondmovable bars 315 and 325. Thus, the induced electromagnetic force biasesthe selected movable bar having the current flowing through them towardstheir respective source bar contact, for example, first movable bars 314and 324 towards the first source bars 311 and 321. If the current doesnot follow the proper path, the benefits of the design would be lost.The system 300 maintains the proper current path for both automatictransfer switches 310 and 320 that are coupled together.

As shown in the figure, the first switch 310 is coupled to the secondswitch 320 by daisy chaining via clusters 330. Clusters 330 areremovable electrical connections that can electrically connect betweentwo bus bars or cables in an ATS or switch gear cabinet or otherinstallation for the ATS switches 310 and 320. Referring to FIG. 4, acluster 400 is shown according to an exemplary embodiment. One bus barcan be mechanically mounted at one side 410 of the cluster 400. Anotherbus bar can be inserted between the arms 420 and pressed by springs 430against the arms 420. In this manner, an electrical connection can beformed between the bus bars. FIG. 5 shows an assembly of four clusters510, 520, 530, and 540 that can provide multiple electrical connections.It is noted that other electrical connections, bus bars, and/or cablingarrangements can be utilized in various embodiments, and all suchalternatives are contemplated within the scope of the presentdisclosure.

Referring again to FIG. 3, the first switch 310 includes, among others,a first source bar 311, a second source bar 312, a stationary bar 313, afirst movable bar 314, and a second movable bar 315. The stationary bar313 has a front or movable bar connection end 316 and a back or distalend 317. The first movable bar 314 and the second movable bar 315 areeach connected to the stationary bar 313 at the front end 316. The backend 317 of the stationary bar 313 may be connected to an electricalload. The second switch 320 has similar components as the first switch310, i.e., a first source bar 321, a second source bar 322, a stationarybar 323 with a front end 326 and a back end 327, a first movable bar324, and a second movable bar 325. In a bypass configuration, as shown,the first source bar 311 of the first switch 310 is connected to thefirst source bar 321 of the second switch 320. The second source bar 312of the first switch 310 is connected to the second source bar 322 of thesecond switch 320. In some embodiments, the system 300 may be used in amultiple source daisy chained configuration where each source barconnects to a different source to allow for more than two sources to beselected from under control of the daisy chained ATS switches 310 and320. In this configuration, the first source bars 311 and 321 and secondsource bars 312 and 322 would not be coupled in parallel, but connectedto separate different sources. For example, the first source bar 311 ofthe first switch 310 is associated with a main utility, the secondsource bar 312 of the first switch 310 is associated with a secondutility, and the first source bar 321 of the second switch 320 isassociated with a generator as a backup power. The back end 317 of thestationary bar 313 of the first switch 310 is connected to the front end326 of the stationary bar 323 of the second switch 320. In the system300, proper current flow path is preserved through the stationary bars313 and 323 for each of the first and second switches 310 and 320 toallow for the blow-on EMF force to be generated during operation. Inparticular, if the electrical load is connected to the power source viathe first switch 310, the current flow path would be the same path asshown in FIG. 2A, which is A-A′ in the stationary bar and B-B′ in thefirst movable bar. Since the current flow directions are opposite in thestationary bar and the first movable bar, a blow-on electromagneticforce is induced that biases the first movable bar towards the firstsource bar. If the electrical load is connected to the power source viathe second switch 320, similarly, a blow-on electromagnetic force isinduced that biases the movable bar towards the corresponding source bardue to the opposite current directions in the stationary bar and themovable bar. It is noted that extra supplemental ATS switches inaddition to the two shown 310 and 320 can be paralleled or daisy chainedin this manner.

The system 300 may be used in the by-pass configuration where the firstsource bar 311 of the first switch 310 and the first source bar 321 ofthe second switch 320 are connected to a same first power source (notshown in the present figures). The second source bar 312 of the firstswitch 310 and the second source bar 322 of the second switch 320 areconnected to a same second power source. When one of the first automatictransfer switch 310 or the second automatic transfer switch 320 fails,the other one will maintain power transmission. It is noted that thefirst switch 310 and the second switch 320 may be on a same cartridge,or on different cartridges.

Referring to FIG. 6, a schematic diagram of a system 600 of coupledautomatic transfer switches having source connections on a single sideis shown according to an exemplary embodiment. The system 600 includes afirst single sided blow-on automatic transfer switch 610, a secondsingle sided blow-on automatic transfer switch 620, and a third singlesided blow-on automatic transfer switch 630 sharing a stationary bar640. It shall be appreciated that the system of three switches are givenherein for example only, not for limitation. The system 600 may includeany appropriate number of coupled switches. It is noted that two singlesided switches daisy chained as shown in FIG. 6 can be an equivalent ofa single two source, double sided ATS switch, such as those illustratedin FIGS. 1-3. As shown, each of the switches 610, 620, and 630 is a“single-sided” switch, i.e., each switch has a source contact on onlyone side, as opposing to the “double-sided” switches shown in FIG. 3.The singled-sided design allows for lower overall profile and increasedcooling at the expense of some additional length. The increasedcartridge external surface area and potential exposure of and/oraddition of heat sinks on the back side of the source bars 611, 621, and631 can take heat away from the movable bar and source contact. Thefirst switch 610 has a source bar 611 that may be connected to a firstpower source (not illustrated in the present figure). The second switch620 has a source bar 621 that may be connected to a second power source(not illustrated in the present figure). The third switch 630 has asource bar 631 that may be connected to a third power source (notillustrated in the present figure). In some embodiments, the first,second, and third power sources are different. For example, the firstpower source may be a main utility, the second power source may be asecond utility, and the third power source may be a backup power such asa generator. In other embodiments, two or more of the power sources maybe the same type of switch and may be used in parallel in a redundantbypass configuration (e.g., two of the three power sources are the sameand the other one is different, all three are the same, etc.).

For the case in which the first power source is a main utility, thesecond power source is a second utility, and the third power source is abackup power such as a generator, the three-single-side-ATS designdisclosed herein may save up to 25% cost comparing to the design usingtwo double sided ATS switches because 50% of the footprint may beneeded. FIG. 7 shows an example three-pole ATS 700. The ATS 700 has adimension of width×height×thickness=1100 mm×850 mm×625 mm. Bus bars 710are used for dissipating heat, which add to 30% cost and 20% weight ofthe ATS. By using the low-profile design illustrated in FIG. 6, long busbars like 710 may not be needed due to better heat dissipation. Thus,the thickness of the ATS may be reduced to, for example, about 400 mm orless. It is noted that for the three source bypass configuration withmain utility, second utility, and backup generator, one long singlesided daisy chain may be used, two single sided daisy chains operatingin parallel may be used, or, a single daisy chain of double sidedblow-on switches with a different switching pattern may be used. A largeparallel implementation with single/double sided blow-on switches (i.e.,every switch coupled in parallel at the back or distal end to the loadand the sources in parallel, or coupled to different sources) is alsopossible.

Referring back to FIG. 6, the first, second, and third switches 610,620, and 630 share a stationary bar 640. The first switch 610 includes amovable bar 612 electrically coupled and rotatably connected to thestationary bar 640. The movable bar 612 is connected to the stationarybar 640 at a front end 613 of the first switch 610. The source bar 611is disposed at a back end 614 of the first switch 610. The second switch620 includes a movable bar 622 similar to the movable bar 612, a frontend 623 where the movable bar 620 is connected to the stationary bar640, and a back end 624 where a source bar 622 is disposed at. The thirdswitch 630 includes a movable bar 632 similar to the movable bar 612, afront end 633 where the movable bar 630 is connected to the stationarybar 640, and a back end 634 where a source bar 632 is disposed at. Thestationary bar 640 may be connected to an electrical load at the backend 634 of the third switch 630. In the system 600, proper current flowpath is preserved from the back end of the stationary bar through themovable bar to the source bar to generate the blow-on force EMF for eachof the first switch 610, the second switch 620, and the third switch630. If the electrical load is connected to the power source via thefirst switch 610, the current flow path would be the same path as shownin FIG. 2A, which is A-A′ in the stationary bar and B-B′ in the movablebar. Since the current flow directions are in opposite directions in thestationary bar and the movable bar, a blow-on electromagnetic force isinduced that biases the movable bar towards the source bar. If theelectrical load is connected to the power source via the second switch420 or the third switch 430, similarly, a blow-on electromagnetic forceis induced that biases the movable bar towards the corresponding sourcebar due to the opposite current directions in the stationary bar and themovable bar. In addition, increased heat dissipation and space for airflow cooling is allowed for with the design, in many cases allowing forsize, weight, and material reductions during implementation due toreduced size and reduction in bus bar size and length.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 6, the benefits of blow-on force design can bepreserved for multiple automatic transfer switches coupled on a singlecassette or by a daisy chain. In the single cassette implementation, onehousing couples multiple source terminals to a stationary bar. In thedaisy chain implement, two or more source terminals on separatecassettes are coupled together, for example, via a “cluster” connectoron the stationary bar.

The design disclosed herein can be implemented on various types ofblow-on contact ATS, for example, on an anti-bounce blow-on contact ATS.Upon closing, contact pads on an ATS might bounce due to the blow-onforce and the material elasticity of the contact pads. Although lastingonly a few milliseconds, a bounce might cause arcing that can damage thecontact pads. An anti-bounce blow-on contact ATS can reduce the bounceback of the contact pads by gradually pressing the contact pads againsteach other upon closing. In particular, FIG. 8A shows an anti-bounceblow-on contact ATS cassette 800 at an open position. FIG. 8B shows theanti-bounce blow-on contact ATS cassette 800 at an initial closedposition. FIG. 8C shows the anti-bounce blow-on contact automatictransfer switch cassette 800 at an ultimate closed position. Thecassette 800 includes a source bar 802 with a source contact pad 803, astationary bar 806, a movable bar 808 with a movable contact pad 809, amovable linkage 814, a T-shaped linkage 815, a spring 816, a cam 817with a hex bar 818. The source bar 802, the stationary bar 806, and themovable bar 808 may have similar structures as the correspondingcomponents discussed with reference to FIG. 1 The cam 817 is rotatablymounted on the cassette 800. The movable bar 808 is linked to the cam817 through the movable linkage 814, which is coupled to the cam 817through a slot 811. The spring 816 is wound around the T-shaped linkage815 and coupled to the cam 817. The cam 817 can rotate along theT-shaped linkage 815 when the spring 816 is compressed. The hex bar 818is formed within the cam 817.

Upon closing, the hex bar 818 is driven to rotate, which drives the cam817 to rotate. The rotation of the cam 817 pulls the movable bar 808 upto the initial closed position where the movable contact pad 809 is justin contact with the source contact pad 803. At the initial position, thespring 816 is substantially not compressed and has a length of P1. Whenthe contact pads 809 and 803 are closed at the initial position, themovement of the movable bar 808 and of the movable linkage 814 isimpeded by the source bar 802. As the hex bar 818 is continually drivento rotate, the clam 817 rotates along the T-shaped linkage 815 andgradually compresses the spring 816 until an ultimate closed position isreached. At the ultimate closed position, the spring 816 is compressedand has a length of P2 shorter than P1. During the progress from theinitial closed position to the ultimate closed position, the contactforce between the contact pads 809 and 803 gradually increases. Theinitial lower contact force followed by a gradual increase of contactforce helps minimize bounce back of the contact pads 809 and 803 uponclosing.

While this specification contains specific implementation details, theseshould not be construed as limitations on the scope of any inventions orof what may be claimed, but rather as descriptions of features specificto particular implementations. Certain features described in thisspecification in the context of separate implementations can also beimplemented in combination in a single implementation. Conversely,various features described in the context of a single implementation canalso be implemented in multiple implementations separately or in anysuitable subcombination. Moreover, although features may be describedabove as acting in certain combinations and even initially claimed assuch, one or more features from a claimed combination can in some casesbe excised from the combination, and the claimed combination may bedirected to a subcombination or variation of a subcombination.

Similarly, while operations may be depicted in a particular order, thisshould not be understood as requiring that such operations be performedin the particular order shown or in sequential order, or that alloperations be performed, to achieve desirable results. Moreover, theseparation of various aspects of the implementations described aboveshould not be understood as requiring such separation in allimplementations, and it should be understood that the described methodscan generally be integrated in a single application or integrated acrossmultiple applications.

The construction and arrangements of the ATS systems as shown in thevarious exemplary embodiments, are illustrative only. Although onlycertain embodiments have been described in detail in this disclosure,many modifications are possible (e.g., variations in sizes, dimensions,structures, shapes and proportions of the various elements, values ofparameters, mounting arrangements, use of materials, colors,orientations, image processing and segmentation algorithms, etc.)without materially departing from the novel teachings and advantages ofthe subject matter described herein. Some elements shown as integrallyformed may be constructed of multiple parts or elements, the position ofelements may be reversed or otherwise varied, and the nature or numberof discrete elements or positions may be altered or varied. The order orsequence of any process, logical algorithm, or method steps may bevaried or re-sequenced according to alternative embodiments. Othersubstitutions, modifications, changes and omissions may also be made inthe design, operating conditions and arrangement of the variousexemplary embodiments without departing from the scope of the presentinvention.

As may be utilized herein, the term “about” and similar terms areintended to have a broad meaning in harmony with the common and acceptedusage by those of ordinary skill in the art to which the subject matterof this disclosure pertains. It should be understood by those of skillin the art who review this disclosure that these terms are intended toallow a description of certain features described and claimed withoutrestricting the scope of these features to the precise numerical rangesprovided. Accordingly, these terms should be interpreted as indicatingthat insubstantial or inconsequential modifications or alterations ofthe subject matter described and claimed are considered to be within thescope of the invention as recited in the appended claims.

The terms “coupled,” “connected,” and the like as used herein mean thejoining of two members directly or indirectly to one another. Suchjoining may be stationary (e.g., permanent) or moveable (e.g., removableor releasable). Such joining may be achieved with the two members or thetwo members and any additional intermediate members being integrallyformed as a single unitary body with one another or with the two membersor the two members and any additional intermediate members beingattached to one another.

References herein to the positions of elements (e.g., “top,” “bottom,”“above,” “below,” etc.) are merely used to describe the orientation ofvarious elements in the drawings. It should be noted that theorientation of various elements may differ according to other exemplaryembodiments, and that such variations are intended to be encompassed bythe present disclosure.

With respect to the use of substantially any plural and/or singularterms herein, those having skill in the art can translate from theplural to the singular and/or from the singular to the plural as isappropriate to the context and/or application. The varioussingular/plural permutations may be expressly set forth herein for thesake of clarity.

What is claimed is:
 1. A system of coupled automatic transfer switches,the system comprising: a stationary bar; and a plurality of automatictransfer switches on the stationary bar, each of the plurality ofautomatic transfer switches comprising: a source bar structured toconnect to a corresponding power source; and a movable bar electricallycoupled and rotatably connected to the stationary bar, wherein themovable bar contacts the source bar to provide power from thecorresponding power source, wherein the movable bar is subjected to anelectromagnetic force biasing the movable bar towards the source bar,and wherein the electromagnetic force is induced by current flowingthrough the stationary bar and the movable bar, wherein the movable barsof the plurality of automatic transfer switches are disposed at a sameside of the stationary bar; and wherein each of the movable bars iscoupled to the stationary bar via a post, each respective post extendingin a direction substantially perpendicular to the stationary bar,wherein each post and each movable bar respectively coupled thereto isspaced from an adjacent post and movable bar by a distance along thestationary bar.
 2. The system of claim 1, wherein the stationary bar isformed from multiple sections linked together.
 3. The system of claim 2,wherein each of the plurality of automatic transfer switches has a frontend and a back end, wherein the corresponding movable bar is connectedto the stationary bar at the front end and the corresponding source baris disposed at the back end.
 4. The system of claim 3, wherein theplurality of automatic transfer switches are arranged on the stationarybar such that a direction of the front end to the back end is the samefor each of the plurality of automatic transfer switches.
 5. The systemof claim 4, wherein each of the source bars of the plurality ofautomatic transfer switches is configured to connect to a differentpower source, and wherein one movable bar is in contact with thecorresponding source bar at a time.
 6. The system of claim 2, whereinthe source bar of a first automatic transfer switch and the source barof a second automatic transfer switch are connected to a same powersource, and wherein one of the first automatic transfer switch or thesecond automatic transfer switch maintains power transmission uponfailure of the other of the first automatic transfer switch or thesecond automatic transfer switch.
 7. The system of claim 1, wherein atleast one of the plurality of automatic transfer switches comprises amovable linkage, a T-shaped linkage, a spring, and a cam with a hex bar.8. The system of claim 7, wherein the first movable bar is linked to thecam through the movable linkage, wherein the spring is wound around theT-shaped linkage and coupled to the cam, wherein the hex bar isstructured to rotate the cam from an initial closed position to anultimate closed position.
 9. The system of claim 8, wherein at theinitial closed position the first movable bar contacts the first sourcebar the spring is substantially not compressed, and wherein at theultimate closed position the first movable bar is pressed against thefirst source bar and the spring is compressed.
 10. The system of claim1, wherein the plurality of automatic transfer switches comprises afirst automatic transfer switch with a corresponding movable barconnected to a first utility, a second automatic transfer switch with acorresponding movable bar connected to a second utility, and a thirdautomatic transfer switch with a corresponding movable bar connected toa generator.
 11. The system of claim 1, wherein the movable bar of eachof the plurality of automatic transfer switches (i) includes a first endand a second end, (ii) is rotatably connected to the stationary bar atthe first end, and (iii) contacts the source bar at the second end, andwherein first ends of each of the respective movable bars of theplurality of automatic transfer switches are disposed at the same sideof the stationary bar.
 12. A system comprising: a generator; and aplurality of automatic transfer switches on a stationary bar, each ofthe plurality of automatic transfer switches comprising: a source barstructured to connect to a corresponding power source of a plurality ofpower sources, wherein the plurality of power sources comprises thegenerator; and a movable bar electrically coupled and rotatablyconnected to the stationary bar, wherein the movable bar contacts thesource bar to provide power from the corresponding power source, whereinthe movable bar is subjected to an electromagnetic force biasing themovable bar towards the source bar, wherein the electromagnetic force isinduced by current flowing through the stationary bar and the movablebar, and wherein the movable bars of the plurality of automatic transferswitches are disposed at a same side of the stationary bar; wherein themovable bar of each of the plurality of automatic transfer switches iscoupled to the stationary bar via a post, the post extending in adirection substantially perpendicular to the stationary bar, wherein thepost and the movable bar respectively coupled thereto is spaced from anadjacent post and movable bar by a distance along the stationary bar.13. The system of claim 12, wherein the stationary bar is formed frommultiple sections linked together.
 14. The system of claim 13, whereineach of the plurality of automatic transfer switches has a front end anda back end, wherein the corresponding movable bar is connected to thestationary bar at the front end and the corresponding source bar isdisposed at the back end.
 15. The system of claim 14, wherein theplurality of automatic transfer switches are arranged on the stationarybar such that a direction of the front end to the back end is the samefor each of the plurality of automatic transfer switches.
 16. The systemof claim 15, wherein each of the source bars of the plurality ofautomatic transfer switches is configured to connect to a differentpower source, and wherein one movable bar is in contact with thecorresponding source bar at a time.
 17. The system of claim 13, whereinthe source bar of a first automatic transfer switch and the source barof a second automatic transfer switch are connected to a same powersource, and wherein one of the first automatic transfer switch or thesecond automatic transfer switch maintains power transmission uponfailure of the other of the first automatic transfer switch or thesecond automatic transfer switch.
 18. The system of claim 12, wherein atleast one of the plurality of automatic transfer switches comprises amovable linkage, a T-shaped linkage, a spring, and a cam with a hex bar.19. The system of claim 18, wherein the first movable bar is linked tothe cam through the movable linkage, wherein the spring is wound aroundthe T-shaped linkage and coupled to the cam, wherein the hex bar isstructured to rotate the cam from an initial closed position to anultimate closed position.
 20. The system of claim 12, wherein theplurality of automatic transfer switches comprises a first automatictransfer switch with a corresponding movable bar connected to a firstutility, a second automatic transfer switch with a corresponding movablebar connected to a second utility, and a third automatic transfer switchwith a corresponding movable bar connected to the generator.